Giant magnetoresistive transducer with increased output signal

(19)

(11)

EP 0 801 380 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	04.03.1998 Bulletin 1998/10

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	15.10.1997 Bulletin 1997/42

(21)	Application number: 97104983.8

(22)	Date of filing: 24.03.1997

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: G11B 5/39

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	DE NL

(30)

Priority:

10.04.1996 US 629993

(71)	Applicant: READ-RITE CORPORATION
	Milpitas California 95035 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Yuan, Samuel W. San Carlos, California 94070 (US)

(74)	Representative: Körber, Wolfhart, Dr. rer.nat. et al
	Patentanwälte Mitscherlich & Partner, Sonnenstrasse 33 80331 München 80331 München (DE)

(54)	Giant magnetoresistive transducer with increased output signal

(57) A thin film magnetic transducer employs a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensing element operating in a (CPP) current-perpendicular-to-the-plane mode. Electrical lead members (12a, 12b) in electric contact with the sensing element provide for the flow of sensor current through the giant magnetoresistive element (14). The height, or both the height and the width, of the GMR sensing element are greater than the height, or both the height and width respectively, of the lead members (12a, 12b), thereby resulting in an increased output signal from the transducer.

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